1.                  The Meeting Youth 2005 is sponsored and organized by the Regional Department for the Communities, from the Presidency of the Regional Government of the Azores, and will take place on the islands of Faial and Pico between July 15 and 23, 2005.

2.                  The objective of this initiative is to gather young people coming from the Azorean communities spread in North America and call their attention to the present social, economical and cultural reality of the Azores.

3.                  The following essays will be the basis for this meeting: “To be is to influence”, “Historic Perspective of the Azores”, “Regional Institutions”, “Nowadays Azorean Society”, “Political and Civic Participation of the Azorean Communities in the Reception Societies”, “Emigration – from the Past to the Future”, “Fundamental Moments of the Daily Life of a Community and Natural History and Sea Life Research”, “Communitarian Way of Life – Testimonies”, and others.

4.                  This event is for young Azorean descendants with ages between 21 and 30, with a reasonable knowledge of the Portuguese Language, preferably involved in cultural projects with communitarian interest and not having visited the Azores during the last 5 years.

5.                  The participants are entitled to free lodgement, in a double room, as well as to the meals referred in the program and during the event. They are also entitled to 50% of the costs of the plane tickets. This percentage will be based on the lowest ticket rate for the shortest course. The participants are responsible for any changes in the course of the trip, as well as for all extra costs (telephone and internet bills, bar, room and laundry services, taxis, luggage overweight, etc.).

6.                  All participants are obliged to follow this regulation, namely in what concerns the Program, under penalty of refunding the Regional Department for the Communities all the costs related to the participants’ trip to the Azores (50% of the costs of the plane tickets, lodgement and meals).

Notice: considering the conditions of the lodgement, the participants are not allowed to bring any guests.

7.                  The application forms must be send between February 7 and March 15, 2005 to the following address:

·                                    Regional Department for the Communities

Rua do Palácio

9700-143 Angra do Heroísmo

Terceira Açores Portugal

Telephone numbers: 295 21 61 37 / 295 21 58 26

Fax number: 295 21 48 67

8.                  The Regional Department for the Communities is responsible for selecting and contacting the candidates.

9.                  The analyses of the candidates’ personal information will be based on the following criterions:

1^st – knowledge of the Portuguese language;

2^nd - not having visited the Azores during the last 5 years;

3^rd – residence;

4^th – involvement in cultural projects;

5^th – academical certifications and professional experience.

10.              All participants must have a health insurance, once the Regional Department for the Communities is not responsible for the payment of any expenses related to any kind of illness, accident or other similar situation.

11.              When filling in the application form, the candidate must state to accept all the terms and conditions of this agreement.